Dodgers-Yankees World Series bullpen duel before Game 4

The Dodgers are just one win away from a championship heading into a bullpen game against the Yankees in Game 4 on Tuesday night. The opener and/or starting pitcher has not yet been announced by Los Angeles, but this bullpen game is expected to carry more weight than some of the previous iterations.

The Dodgers are up 3-0 in the series, and this is the middle game of possibly three straight days at Yankee Stadium. The team used six relievers to get the final 12 outs of Game 3.

Michael Kopech, Anthony Banda and Alex Vesia each pitched in all three World Series games over a four-game span. During the regular season, the Dodgers used a pitcher only once four times in five days, Banda in the final five days before the All-Star break. The left-hander has been accustomed to a heavy workload since being traded to the Dodgers in May.

Sure, it's possible that Kopech, Banda and/or Vesia pitch in Game 4, since this is the World Series, after all. But that would almost certainly make them unavailable for a possible Game 5, lest anyone reach Brandon Morrow territory.

So I think Game 4 will see a combination of Brent Honeywell, Ben Casparius and Landon Knack take center stage while letting the chips fall where they may and at least buying the other buddies in the bullpen a day of rest.

But let's at least see where the bullpens stand when it comes to deployment during this World Series and contact with batters on the other team.

Brusdar Graterol faced the Yankees' big three of Juan Soto, Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton twice. Blake Treinen is just one Soto plate appearance away. None of the Dodgers' left-handed hitters have played against Soto.

Ryan Brasier managed to hit the heart of the New York order in the eighth inning of Game 3, striking out two hits in a scoreless inning. One could see Michael Kopech facing this trio for the first time at some point if the situation calls for it.

The Yankees have a tall task on their hands, down 3-0, as they need to win four straight games to win the series, and they already have a strong bullpen to do so.

Clay Holmes and Jake Cousins ​​are the two Yankees relievers who will appear in all three games of this series.

Game 4 on Tuesday night will determine whether I need to write another repeat of this post for Wednesday.